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Saturday, October 29, 2011

INFINITE - the future of Hallyu

Oh well, some are bored already, I know. This would be my next Hancine article, so this is actually all features of Big Dipper combined. Still, it's not as broad as I would like it to make (maybe in the future, oh I dream of such concert as DBSK had, oh to be on such event would be dream come true).

And here and now, I repeat what I wrote in many places already (official Woollim too) - please, give those boys a rest. A week would do them good. They all worked hard, plus, one special slu... star, that is Namstar, is also on Immortal Song and he's so thin I expect an IV stand close to him.

Lot and lot of new groups
are being called “new Hallyu” or “the future of Hallyu”, but only time will
tell which ones can actually make it. I was hesitant to write about any of
them, not too sure if I write about a craze that will not live long. But the
group I am going to introduce today has few distinctive traits that set them
apart from others. This may become their undoing, but at the same time this may
be their strongest asset.

The group consists of 7 members: Kim Seonggyu,
Jang Dongwu, Nam Wuhyeon, Lee Howon (Hoya), Lee Seongyeol,
Kim Myeongsu (L), and Lee Seongjong. They are managed by Woollim Entertainment, the
same label of Epic High and Nell. Yes, I guess, that would be the first trait
that sets them apart. Neither of those group is typical Kpop, although Epic
High is highly (nomen-omen) popular.

It is not easy to write about popular
group/singer that has devoted fandom. Usually new fans are very aggressive in
terms of any mistakes and typos and exaggerate that to the size of Armageddon. Every
word has to be carefully written and read few times out loud. They pinpoint
with some perverted pleasure the slightest mistake, like: “Oh no, you wrote
they held the stage at 4.53 pm, and it was actually 4.55 pm! Check your facts!”
Personally, I do not think this is something that the world’s fate depends on.
Moving on.

INFINITE debuted on June 10th
2010 on M! Countdown music show with
their song “Come Back Again” (다시돌아와) from the
first single “First Invasion”, earlier this month, on June 9th their
showcased the song for the first time. The song was made into two MVs – usual one,
and so-called “dance version”. Some other groups also followed this trend of
making two sets of videos, just to name DBSK and SHINee only.

From their second mini-album comes the
song “Before The Down” that garnered a lot of attention in terms of the
choreography, displayed fully in, again, dance version of the video. Perfect synchronization
and difficult dance figures (namely “scorpion dance”) highlighted their dancing
abilities. And this summer they released their first full-length album “Over
The Top”, followed by repackaged album “Paradise”
(in September). Group bid their farewell to Korean fans this week and prepare
for Japanese debut.

But INFINITE is not only ideal dancing
group. They have voices and personalities as well. Their leader, Seonggyu has
broad-range voice reaching high notes without apparent efforts (which is not
exactly true, but this is not the time and place to delve more into high pitch
singing), and it seems there is no song he would be unable to sing. Another
main voice in the group is Wuhyeon, in comparison to the leader, having
slightly less broad spectrum of his voice, because of his naturally low timbre.
As the balance to those powerful (but still not fully developed) voices serve Myeongsu,
Seongyeol and Seongjong. In the middle of it there are two rappers, Hoya and
Dongwu, who also take part in singing, not only rapping (bless their efforts).

INFINITE’s music is genuinely INFINITE. It
is Kpop, but slightly peripheral Kpop. Comparing to huge beats and overwhelming
musical arrangements of, let’s say SM Entertainment artists (DBSK/HoMin, Super
Junior etc.), INFINITE songs lack it. This is this first trait that sets them
apart from other groups. After listening to their two, three songs, it’s easy
to say: yes, this is their style. I just want to say it beforehand – it is too
early to say about INFINITE style, but during those 500 days since their debut,
they embarked on their unique and distinctive path. And it looks like they will
be following this route. What is this budding, as for now, INFINITE style? First,
it is “back to the past”. Their music leads the listeners to the past, to the
great times of pop. “Come Back again” has upbeat, funky style that reminds of
Michel Jackson glory days. It is impossible to stay still while listening to
this song. Moreover, it has live instruments, mainly guitars. This is also
something that great MJ tried – incorporating rock guitars into pop (2 guitars
in “Beat It” is a masterpiece). The background beat and the flow of “Come Back
Again” reminds older viewers of “Billie Jean” (young ones – go watch it ASAP!),
it is like 21st century “Billie Jean” beat with some incredible
choreography and singing in unison.

Then we got “Before The Dawn” probably
the only song with such tremendous beat that captured the audience, but in the
same time that made a scratch on the group style. Somehow fans started to use “BTD”
as the comparing point to any other song, expecting that every next one will be
equally powerful and “catchy”. I hate the term “catchy”. It implicates “catch”
and “lose” as well. In this term, the “catchy” song is not catchy for a long
time at all and it will eventually be lost and forgotten. I prefer “boring”
songs but with emotions, good lyrics or some interesting element in musical
composition than just a beat. But well, I guess it’s just me.

Their first album, “Over The Top” does not
have BTD-like songs. With the fastest one, “Be Mine” it focuses more on the
lyrical side of the group (yes, I liked “Voice of My Heart” and “Can U Smile
remix” from “Evolution”) stressing once more this “back to the past”. As I
usually do not care about other people’s opinions, I like this album a lot and
this is why I decided to get myself repackaged version. Why? The reason is
simple – after hearing “Be Mine” in remixed, orchestral version, I pledged my
faith into this group. How many times we hear today a pop song changed into
quasi-classical background song? “Paradise” is
highly addictive song, with high pitched voices during the chorus that remind
of good ol’ times. “Julia” is, for me, a hypnotic song, built on rhyming
sequences in refrains, using the back-up in an interesting way. Two solo songs
by two main voices, that is “Because” (by Seonggyu) and “Time” (or “Stop The
Time”/”Timeless” by Wuhyeon) prove that in the nearest future those two young
men will be main topics among musical discussions.

Now, let’s move to short characteristic
of their MVs (really short, because it’s better to watch by yourself than read
an article by *ekhem*older*ekhem* fan of the boys).

Woolliment has geniuses in terms of
creating MVs. Not only they fit the song, but they also tell some story. The
fact that those stories are confusing enough also sets them apart from other
bands. Typical MV presents the band. Good enough, but it is the form of art to
present them in such a way so people will remember them for a long time. And I
have to say every MV by this group is distinctive and fits the song, yet all of
them have some invisible INFINITE watermark on it. “Come Back Again (Dance
Version)” has three colors – black, dark blue and white. The camera is there as
if by sheer chance, capturing “gliding” moves of the septet. “Before The Dawn”
shows mainly two members – Wuhyeon and Myeongsu, as they are main characters in
the story shown. There are many theories about the meaning of the MV, and I am
not going to throw another one. One thing needs to be highlighted though – with
the failed attempt to free themselves, two of the characters fell into the
ever-repeating loop of night and day marked by the title dawn. One word comes
to mind? Yes, “infinite” should.

“Be Mine” also depicts some story and “Paradise” as well. The fact that “Paradise” lyrics are
not the happiest ones out there it’s also something odd in Kpop world, where boy
bands’ lyrics focus on something else.

Since we are on lyrics already,
Woolliment allows both Hoya and Dongwu to write their own parts in songs, and
this is what sets them apart even further (I checked, and Dongwu is more active
in writing those on “Paradise”). Usually
agencies have people that write lyrics for the group, but here, all rapping
parts are written personally by those two. However, they are not responsible
for the whole lyrics yet. Maybe soon their participation in writing will be
more visible?

Two of the members already had acting
debut, Myeongsu appeared in Japanese Asahi TV drama “Jiu”, and Seongyeol in "While
You Were Sleeping" (SBS, 2011).

As casting the idols into dramas became a norm for Korean
drama industry, we may be sure one of them will be soon featured as “drama cast”.

One member, Wuhyeon, takes part in “Immortal Song 2”
competition as one of the singers.

Starting September 1st, they gathered in total 4
awards: September 1st and 8th for “Be Mine”, October 13th
for “Paradise” on “Mnet M! Countdown”, and
October 9th for “Paradise” on “Inkigayo”.

They wrapped up Korea promotions and in November
start their Japanese debut.

It's not visible, writer, who yer fave are...

There is also one interesting thing. They
have never said “We are second…(put a band name here)”. They always say they’re
INFINITE. And this proves how smart this move is. When a band says something
like “We will be second DBSK, second BOA, etc.” it means they will always be second
and they are comfortable with that. They will follow on someone else’s path
instead of their own. Big Dipper* guys know that already. To achieve the
success and to remain in the memory of fans, you can’t be just second DBSK,
because you will be remembered only because of this reference. The real success
is to be remembered as the genuine you.

I do not want to guess how long they
will last, but of one thing I am sure – they will set up new style of future Hallyu.
With their distinctive singing, dancing, colorful personalities and music that
is not typical, mainstream Kpop, they are already visible.

I hope I named all characteristics that
make them stand against all other bands. And I, as the old DBSK fan, have some
high expectations towards certain groups. For me cute face is not enough
(although it does not hurt), but I LISTEN first, watch later. Distinctive
voices, unique music and perfectly synchronized dancing make them infinitely
different from others. And this is the future of Hallyu as I see it.